Linfield wins McMinnville Regional

Haddeland, a McMinnville High School graduate, supported a strong start by Justin Davis (5 2/3 innings pitched, two hits allowed) with a two-inning save Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 4-2, to win the regional and advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series.

Linfield (37-7) went 4-0 in the regional, including two victories over the Pointers (32-13), to return to the Division III CWS, where it is the defending national champion.

Included in that stretch was a 3-2 game against Stevens Point on Friday that ended in controversy at Roy Helser Field. Pointers third baseman Kyle McHugh hit the potential game-tying home run in the bottom of the eighth inning but did not touch first base. The error was spotted by Wildcats coach Scott Brosius; Linfield appealed to first base, won the appeal and won the game an inning later.

Haddeland was one of four Wildcats to be named to the all-tournament team, including pitcher Aaron Thomassen, catcher Jake Wylie and right fielder Nick Fisher. Fisher was named Most Outstanding Player at the regional.